Mike Hightower
Associate Director
New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Presentation Topic: National Trends in Produced Water Treatment and Reuse
Presentation Date: October 16 2025
Meet Your Speaker:
Mike Hightower is the former Director and currently Adjunct Professor at the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium, a joint effort of the NM Environment Department and New Mexico State University. Mike is retired from Sandia National Laboratories where he worked in aerospace, weapons, energy, and natural resource research. Mike holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering from New Mexico State University. For the past three decades he has focused on approaches to improve global energy and water infrastructure security and resource stewardship.
Presentation Abstract:
The presentation will provide information on national trends in produced water treatment and reuse based on state updates and coordination efforts conducted by the NM Produced Water Research Consortium in support of the US EPA’s National Water Reuse Program Plan. Since 2022, significant changes in produced water treatment and reuse data, legislation, and applications has taken place. The presentation will discuss major directions and highlight state acknowledgement of the environmental, economic, and water stewardship benefits of fit-for-purpose treatment and reuse of produced water. This will help all stakeholders increase thier awareness of the advantages of produced water treatment and reuse from both local and regional economic development opportunities and from the standpoint of public and environmental health and safety. Efforts at EPA will bring a national level change in how waste waters, including produced water, are considered, managed, and reused to support national waste stewardship initiatives.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
O&G operators, environmental remediation companies, industries requireing new sources of water, and water treatment and energy development companies